Voices of the Bar 2/23/17: Who Are You Rooting for at the Oscars?

Posted February 23, 2017

We can’t believe it’s Oscar season already! Whether you put together your office’s annual Academy Awards pool or you have that one special film or performance that struck you this year, we reached out to ask our members about their favorites.

“What Oscar nominees are you rooting for?“

Nancy Weissman – Law Offices of Nancy Weissman “I’m rooting for Lion (for its treatment of the linked questions of identity and connection), Dr. Strange, and Sing (a Hungarian film called Mindenki in its native language). I’m invested in the last category due to an obscure connection: my distant cousin won in the Short Film: Live Action Category in 1991!”

Shannon Lynch – Beck Reed Riden “While I have not yet seen all of the 2017 Oscar-nominated films, if I were to receive an invitation to join the 6,000-member Academy, my votes would go to Manchester-by-the Sea, La La Land, and Lion. My Best Actor vote would go to Boston’s own Casey Affleck for his emotionally-intense performance in Manchester-by-the-Sea. My vote for Best Director would go to Damien Chazelle for his mesmerizing work in the musical La La Land. In the category of Best Picture, I would cast my vote for Lion, an unforgettable story with breathtaking cinematography and gritty performances by Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel. ”

Brian Atherton – Saul Ewing“I’m rooting for O.J., Made in America to win the Oscar for Best Documentary.”

Patricia Weisgerber – M. Robinson & Company “Best Original Screenplay has to go to The Lobster. The premise was that you have 45 days to find your one true love, otherwise you get turned into your animal of choice and the main character chose a lobster. I haven’t been to Legal’s since I saw it.”

Anthony Rufo – Foley Hoag “I am torn between Viola Davis and Michelle Williams for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. They each have multiple nominations under their belts. One thing they both have in common – they are almost too good. Each is so believable in every role that it doesn’t even seem like acting. That is the hardest thing to do. ”

Mark Fleming – WilmerHale“The Lobster – not only was it surprisingly well-written and well-acted, but it reminded me of high school and why I’m so glad those days are behind me.”

Dustin Hecker – Posternak Blankstein & Lund “As I have only seen one of the movies, with my three sons Christmas time, I will have to be rooting for Rogue One to win in the best video effects category. Clearly, I need to get out a little bit more. But it is college hoops season, and March Madness is right around the corner. So I likely will be catching a few of these on Netflix.”

If you would like to respond to a future Voices of the Bar, make sure you send aheadshot, and contact Lauren DiTullio at [email protected].